I recently changed up my workstation and moved everything over to a standing desk setup. It's not some high-end motorized desk or anything like that, just a functional setup using an old double keyboard stand that gets the job done and keeps me on my feet. I do have a tall director-style folding chair off to the side that I can use when I really want to sit for a bit, but most of the time I find myself standing, and honestly, I’m loving it.
This one small change has made a huge impact on how I move through my day. Before, when I had a regular desk and chair, I would end up sitting for hours without even realizing it. I'd get caught up in whatever I was working on, and the next thing I knew, a whole chunk of the day had disappeared while I was just sitting there. Now, I approach the computer more intentionally. I walk up, get the task done, and then I walk away. That’s it. No endless rabbit holes or zoning out while stuck in a chair. That change alone has made a noticeable difference in how much I get done.
Boost in Productivity and Focus
Since switching to this kind of setup, I’ve been way more productive. Something about standing makes me more focused and efficient. I think it's because I don't settle in and get too comfortable. There’s no slouching into a chair or getting sucked into scrolling for too long. I’m up, alert, and in a kind of “get it done” mode. When I’m finished, I feel free to walk away and move on to something else that needs doing. That small difference has helped me knock out more tasks both online and around the homestead.
It’s been easier to bounce between digital work and physical chores. Instead of feeling stuck in front of a screen, I’m more mobile. I’ll do something online, then go out and take care of something outside or around the workshop, and then come back in if I need to. I’m not tethered to my chair anymore, which means I don’t feel drained and lazy by mid-afternoon like I used to. If I am worn out mid afternoon, it's because I have been working my fat ass off, haha.
Standing is Better for Your Health
Let’s be real, sitting all day just isn’t good for you. Most people know this, but they keep doing it anyway because they don’t feel the effects right away. But over time, it wears on you. It makes you sluggish, helps you put on the weight, and just chips away at your energy and mood. We weren’t designed to sit motionless all day staring at screens. That’s a modern invention, and it’s taking a serious toll on people’s health. I really noticed this working from home with Apple and saw why the encouraged people to get gym memberships. They would actually send you out a standing desk if you requested it with some kind of doctor note. And not a cheap one either, they sent out the good stuff, haha, for a multi-trillion dollar company, they had better take care of their people. I digress...
Since I started standing again while working, I’ve noticed I move a lot more during the day. Even when I'm focused on something at the computer, I’ll shift around, walk in place a bit, do calf raises, or even some stretches. It’s small stuff, but it adds up. It keeps my blood flowing and my energy up. And it feels natural, not like I’m forcing myself to “work out.” I just move how I feel like moving in the moment. That alone is better than staying sedentary and letting my body tighten up from sitting too long.
Helping Me Stay Active on the Homestead
One of the biggest wins is how it’s helped me stay more active with everything else I’ve got going on around the homestead. With the standing setup, I’m not stuck at my desk all day. I’ve actually got more time and energy to take care of the garden, build things, or just get outside and work around the property. The computer no longer feels like a trap that sucks me in for hours on end.
When I need to check stuff, update something online, or publish a post, I get in, do the damn thing, and I’m out. It’s streamlined my workflow and cut out a lot of wasted time. That’s a game changer when you’ve got a long to-do list that goes beyond digital work. Having that balance between tech and real life is important, especially when you’re trying to build a more independent and grounded lifestyle as I am.
Get on Your Feet!
I didn’t expect such a small change to make such a big difference, but switching to a standing desk has really improved both my productivity and my overall health, and in a fairly short time. I’m not saying it’s a magic fix, but if you spend a lot of time sitting and you’ve been feeling stuck, sluggish, or just out of rhythm, it might be something worth trying. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Just set yourself up in a way that gets you out of that chair and back on your feet.
The more I focus on moving with purpose throughout my day, the better I feel and the more I get done. That’s the kind of momentum I want to keep building on!
Until next time...
Be cool, be real, and always abide with you my dudes!